Caecilia Metella (Sulla's wife)

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Caecilia Metella († 81 BC ) was a member of the ancient Roman plebeian dynasty of the Caecilians and in second marriage from 88 to 81 BC. Married to Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix .

Life

Caecilia Metella was a daughter of Lucius Caecilius Metellus Delmaticus , who lived in 119 BC. Held the consulate . Her first husband was the consul from 115 BC. BC, Marcus Aemilius Scaurus the Elder († 88 BC). Two sons came from this connection, including that of the speaker Marcus Tullius Cicero 54 BC. BC successfully defended Marcus Aemilius Scaurus the younger , as well as the daughter Aemilia Scaura , who was married to Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus in second marriage .

After the consulate took office in 88 v. Chr. To secure the support of the powerful house of the Meteller , Sulla separated from his third wife Cloelia and a few days later entered into a fourth marriage with the newly widowed Caecilia Metella. This marriage was treated with mocking songs by the people and also met with displeasure from many noble Romans. Sulla had male descendants only from Caecilia Metella. A son died before his mother, but the marriage gave birth to the twins Faustus Cornelius Sulla and Cornelia Fausta . 87 BC Sulla took over the supreme command in the First Mithridatic War against the Pontic king Mithridates VI. In the meantime, his domestic enemies, Gaius Marius and Lucius Cornelius Cinna , seized power in Rome. Fearing Cinna, Caecilia Metella fled in 86 BC. From the capital and went to her husband, who was still at war, in Greece. At that time Sulla besieged Athens , whose inhabitants and especially the tyrant Aristion Caecilia Metella mocked from the walls. In retaliation, the angry Roman general punished the Athenians very harshly after they had stormed their city.

When Sulla returned to Italy, the people asked Caecilia Metella to persuade her husband to show leniency. 81 BC Sulla celebrated his triumph . At this point Caecilia Metella contracted a fatal disease. The dictator was so superstitious that he broke up with her and threw her out of his home. After her death, however, he had her buried in a splendid funeral ceremony.

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Cicero, Pro M. Aemilio Scauro 45 with commentary by Asconius Pedianus ; Plutarch , Sulla 6-14 .
  2. ^ Cicero, Pro P. Sestio 101 and Pro M. Aemilio Scauro 45 with Asconius commentary; Pliny , Naturalis historia 36, 113; Plutarch, Sulla 33, 4; Pompey 9, 2; Cato Minor 3, 1st
  3. ↑ Plutarch, Sulla 6, 14ff.
  4. ↑ Plutarch, Sulla 34, 5; 37, 2ff.
  5. ↑ Plutarch, Sulla 22, 2; Appian , Civil Wars 1, 73 and 1, 77.
  6. ↑ Plutarch, Sulla 6, 18 and 13, 1.
  7. ^ Plutarch, Sulla 6, 17.
  8. ↑ Plutarch, Sulla 35, 2f.
personal data
SURNAME Caecilia Metella
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Sulla's wife
DATE OF BIRTH 2nd century BC Chr.
DATE OF DEATH 81 BC Chr.